Connection of stretchers or ribs and joints of umbrellas

ABSTRACT

A stretcher or rib of an umbrella is made of compound material and a cap has a tube in which an end of the stretcher or rib is inserted. A metal collar is mounted to the tube and rolled to deform inward to clamp the tube and the stretcher or rib together. A joint has a tube and the stretcher or rib extends through the joint and the tube. A metal collar is mounted to the tube and rolled to deform inward to clamp the tube of the joint and the stretcher or rib together.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to connection of stretchers or ribs made of compound material and joints of umbrellas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A conventional connection between stretchers or ribs 10 of umbrellas and joints or caps are disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2. The stretchers or ribs 10 of modem umbrellas are made of compound material such as carbon fibers or glass fibers which are light in weight and durable in strength, the caps 25 for connecting to an end of the stretchers or ribs 10 and the joints 20 for connecting to an intermediate portion of the stretchers or ribs 10 are made of plastic or rubber which is secured to the stretchers or ribs 10 by way of plastic injection. In order to allow the rubber or plastic secured to the stretchers or ribs 10, grooves 11 are defined in an outer periphery of the stretchers or ribs 10 so that the plastic or rubber may be filled in the grooves 11. FIG. 3 shows a pin 12 is used to penetrate through the stretchers or ribs 10 and the cap 25 instead of using the plastic injection. Nevertheless, once the carbon fibers or glass fibers made the stretchers or ribs 10 is broken into grooves in the outer periphery thereof, the structural strength is reduced and stress concentration is happened at the area where grooves 11 are defined. FIG. 4 shows the cap 25 is force-fitted to the stretchers or ribs 10. The cap 25 could be deformed due to the temperature change and could be disengaged from the stretchers or rib 10.

[0003] The present invention intends to provide a connection structure for securely connect the joints or caps to the stretchers or ribs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stretcher or rib which is made of compound material and a cap which has a tube. An end of the stretcher or rib is inserted into the tube and a metal collar is mounted to the tube and rolled to deform inward to clamp the tube and the stretcher or rib together.

[0005] The main object of the present invention is that the compound material made stretchers or ribs are not damaged or deformed when being connected with the caps or joints.

[0006] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a conventional way to connect the cap and the joint to the stretcher or rib;

[0008]FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively show two different conventional ways to connect the cap and the joint to the stretcher or rib;

[0009]FIG. 5 is an exploded view to show the cap, the collar and the stretcher or rib of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 6 is an exploded view to show the joint, the collar and the stretcher or rib of the present invention;

[0011]FIGS. 7A and 7B show the metal collar is deformed to secure the cap and the stretcher or rib of the present invention;

[0012]FIGS. 8A and 8B show the metal collar is deformed to secure the joint and the stretcher or rib of the present invention;

[0013]FIGS. 9A and 9B show the metal tube on the joint is deformed to secure the collar and the stretcher or rib of the present invention;

[0014]FIGS. 10A and 10B show the metal tube on the cap is deformed to secure the collar and the stretcher or rib of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 11 shows the metal tube of the joint is pressed to form a plurality of recesses;

[0016]FIG. 12 shows the metal collar is pressed to form a plurality of recesses, and

[0017]FIG. 13 shows a part of the stretcher and rib of an umbrella.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 5, 7A, 7B and 13, an umbrella includes a shaft 100 with a runner 90 movably mounted to the shaft 100. A finishing cap 900 is connected to a top of the shaft 100 and a plurality of ribs 40 are pivotably connected to the finishing cap 900 and a plurality of stretchers 30 are pivotably connected between the ribs 40 and the runner 90. The caps 50 are mounted to distal ends of the stretcher and rib 30 and 40, and the joints 60 are used to connect the stretchers 30 to the ribs 40. A fabric 80 is connected to the ribs 40 and can be expanded out when moving the runner 90 toward the finishing cap 900.

[0019] The stretcher or rib 30 or 40 of the present invention is made of compound material and the cap 50 has a tube 51 which is made of plastic or rubber. An end of the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 is inserted into the tube 51 via an opening 52 of the tube 51. A metal collar 70 is mounted to the tube 51 and rolled to deform inward to clamp the tube 51 and the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 together.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the joint 60 has a tube 61 which is made of plastic or rubber and the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 extends through the joint 60 and the tube 61. A metal collar 70 is mounted to the tube 61 and rolled to deform inward to clamp the tube 61 and the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 together.

[0021] By this way, the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 is not damaged in shape and structure so as to improve the shortcoming of the conventional connection structure.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 12, the metal collar 70 can be pressed to form a plurality of recesses 72 to fix the tube 61 and the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 together.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 is made of compound material and the joint 60 has a metal tube 63. The stretchers or ribs 30 or 40 are extended through the joint 60 and the metal tube 63, and a collar 71 made of plastic or rubber is mounted to the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 and received in the metal tube 63 which is rolled to deform inward to clamp the collar 71 and the stretchers or ribs 30 or 40 together. The metal tube 63 can be pressed to form a plurality of recesses 64 to fix the collar 71 and the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 together as shown in FIG. 11.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 is made of compound material and the cap 50 has a metal tube 53. An end of the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 is inserted into the metal tube 53, and a collar 71 made of plastic or rubber is mounted to the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 and received in the metal tube 53 which is rolled to deform inward to clamp the collar 71 and the stretcher or rib 30 or 40 together.

[0025] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A connection between stretchers or ribs and caps, wherein the stretcher or rib is made of compound material and the cap has a tube, an end of the stretcher or rib is inserted into the tube, and a metal collar is mounted to the tube and rolled to deform inward to clamp the tube and the stretcher or rib together.
 2. The connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap is made of rubber or plastic.
 3. A connection between stretchers or ribs and caps, wherein the stretcher or rib is made of compound material and the cap has a metal tube, an end of the stretcher or rib is inserted into the metal tube, and a collar is mounted to the stretcher or rib and received in the metal tube which is rolled to deform inward to clamp the collar and the stretcher or rib together.
 4. The connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap is made of rubber or plastic.
 5. A connection between stretchers or ribs and joints, wherein the stretcher or rib is made of compound material and the joint has a tube, the stretcher or rib extends through the joint and the tube, and a metal collar is mounted to the tube and rolled to deform inward to clamp the tube and the stretcher or rib together.
 6. The connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint is made of rubber or plastic.
 7. A connection between stretchers or ribs and joints, wherein the stretcher or rib is made of compound material and the joint has a metal tube, the stretchers or ribs are extended through the joint and the metal tube, and a collar is mounted to the stretcher or rib and received in the metal tube which is rolled to deform inward to clamp the collar and the stretcher or rib together.
 8. The connection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the joint is made of rubber or plastic. 